Chapter 117
"This is awful. Just have them bring me the one the maid made," Victoria said flatly, setting down her spoon.
Camille's face fell. "Victoria, I made this myself."
"Well," Victoria replied calmly, meeting her gaze. "Your cooking has really gone downhill, then."
Camille felt a surge of anger, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
Henry was sitting nearby. Even though he wasn't looking directly at them, his presence was oppressive.
She knew Henry was doing this to defend Victoria.
They wouldn't leave until Victoria was satisfied.
Camille took a deep breath to compose herself. "Fine," she said, "I'll have them bring it up."
With that, Camille turned and left the room.
Victoria felt a surge of satisfaction, but it wasn't complete.
Camille wasn't truly helpless against her; she was just afraid of Henry.
But Victoria didn't care. She'd enjoy the moment.
After finishing the chicken soup the maid brought, Victoria opened her laptop to edit some photos she had taken.
Sunlight streamed into the room, bathing the rosy pink space in a warm, feminine glow.
Henry, who had been signing some documents, looked up and saw Victoria focused intently on her laptop, her fingers moving across the touchpad, her lengthy hair framing her face.
She seemed to have rested well; the exhaustion from yesterday had faded.
He hadn't really paid much attention to her before.
He just knew that there was always someone waiting for him at home. She would have dinner ready, and it would be just the way he liked it. He rarely ate out, even for business dinners, where he would only drink.
It seemed he was used to having this shadow in his life, but now the shadow had a mind of its own. She didn't want to be a shadow anymore.
That was fine.
She could do whatever she wanted. With the identity of Mrs. Harrison, everything would be easier for her.
As for divorce, she could forget about it.
Henry inexplicably solidified this thought, his eyes darkening as he looked at her.
That evening, James returned home and immediately went to see Victoria. He asked a few concerned questions, then started chatting with Henry.
Compared to Victoria, he was more concerned about whether the Hardwick Group could cooperate more with the Harrison Group and gain more significant benefits.
Henry's attitude was indifferent. "James," he said, "I'm actually quite curious about what Camille said to Victoria. Victoria has always been so well–behaved. Why would she suddenly jump out of a car?"
James' expression stiffened, and he gave Victoriaa cold look.
Henry's tone instantly dropped a few degrees. "James, I'm asking you, why are you looking at her?"
James frowned. "Henry, you don't understand.
We've always spoiled her, which has led to her having quite a temper.
She couldn't even handle her mother giving her some advice.
What's wrong with a mother teaching her child?
Although her mother realizes that maybe her words made Victoria uncomfortable, and she will be more careful in the future. "
"Oh, I see." Henry's handsome face remained expressionless.
"Then James, you need to talk to Camille. Victoria is not a child anymore. She has her own thoughts and judgment. What's more, she's married now. She's my wife and Jude's mother. She's not someone just anyone can lecture."
He seemed calm, but his words were a sharp rebuke. He didn't even seem to take the Hardwicks seriously!
James was furious but could only suppress his anger. "Yes, I'll talk to her. Alright, you two have a good rest. I have some things to attend to."
After saying that, he immediately got up and left. Once outside, he called Camille back to the bedroom with a grim expression.
"What exactly did you say to our daughter?" James demanded, his voice thick with fury. "Now even that young whippersnapper Henry thinks he can lecture me!"
His appearance took Camille aback, and she hurriedly explained what had happened in the car yesterday.
"Sarah isn't just Henry's mistress. She's practically Mrs. Jennifer Harrison's favorite!
She'll likely replace Victoria as Mrs. Harrison someday.
I was thinking that if Victoria apologized to Sarah, it might appease Mrs. Jennifer Harrison.
It was all for Victoria's sake and our family's sake.
But who would have thought? I just gave Victoria a little talking–to, and she jumped out of the car! It scared me to death!"
After Camille finished, she grumbled about Victoria's behavior with a displeased look.
"She doesn't respect me at all! Jumping out of a moving car like that!
If those wealthy ladies find out, who knows what they'll say behind my back!
It's like I didn't raise a daughter! I raised a troublemaker! "
James' face remained grim. "Asking her, a lady of Harrison, to apologize to a mistress? What were you thinking?!"
Camille immediately replied, "I'm afraid Mrs. Jennifer Harrison will take it out on our family!
We finally managed to get in with the Harrison Group.
At first, Henry would throw a project or two our way, but these past two years, we've been completely sidelined.
If that dumb girl keeps acting up and annoys Henry, won't our family be the one to suffer? "
James put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the room. Camille's words made sense. The most important thing now was to secure Victoria's position in the Harrison family. She absolutely could not divorce Henry.
"But judging by Henry's attitude towards her, he seems to prefer and protected to her. That Sarah mistress probably won't last long," James said.
Camille looked at him, pondered for a moment, and said, "Honey, I saw that Sarah. I don't know why, but I felt a sense of closeness when I saw her. It was strange. I have never felt that way to Victoria before".
James glanced at her. "What do you mean?"
"I suspect..." Camille hesitated. "Could Victoria not be our daughter?"
James immediately frowned and retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"Don't you remember? The hospital was in chaos when she was born. There was a medical riot going on. Maybe the babies got switched in all the commotion?" Camille speculated boldly.
James waved his hand dismissively. "Impossible. I had people watching over her. There's no way they could have mixed her up. Don't let your dislike of our daughter make you think she's not yours."
Camille fell silent, but a thought lingered in her mind—she always had this feeling, she had to investigate this thoroughly. What if it was true?
Neither of them noticed a figure passing by the doorway, their conversation overheard in its entirety.
The maid brought in dinner. Victoria ate a little, then her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, surprised, and answered the call.
"Hello, Mr. Caldwell," she said, her tone light and cheerful, drawing Henry's attention.
Jayce's voice came through, flat and emotionless. "You've been discharged?"
"Yes, I'm home recovering," Victoria replied.
Jayce's voice took on a hint of reproach. "And you didn't tell me?"
"Uh..."
"I was the one who took you to the hospital. I waited until you woke up before I left. But you didn't even let me know when you were discharged." Jayce's voice now held a trace of sorrow. "Do know what I thought when I saw the empty room?"
"What did you think?" Victoria asked, a little embarrassed.
"I thought you'd secretly gone and died on me," Jayce said.
Victoria was speechless.